Hotel California is one of the biggest selling albums of all time. I don't think Barnstorm even made the charts when it was initially released but I've probably listened to Barnstorm a guesstimate of 20 or so more times for every time I've listened to the Eagles masterpiece. As it wasn't instantly as successful as The James Gang, Joe went in a more crowd pleasing direction. I'm still hoping for a serious revaluation of his Barnstorm album. It's probably my favourite album. The other Barnstorm album, The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get is stellar too.
Walsh made his name as a guitarist but he has some pedigree as a songwriter. One of his earliest recordings, Collage, from the first, late sixties, James Gang album was covered impressively by Hedge And Donna, complete unknowns but I got to hear it in England, and Prince Charles's favourite group at the time, UK vocal harmony group, The Three Degrees.
Since the internet increased it's accessibility it's now been covered many times. Golden Earring have done a version.
Collage is a lovely Dm song but Joe's very rarely performed it live.
Being a highly regarded early seventies rock guitarist has led to Joe's, guitar lick songs becoming something that both amateur and professional rock bands are going to play. Funk #49 and Rocky Mountain Way have been covered hundreds of times, notably Van Halen, Ozzy Osborne and Michael Bolton off the top of my head. I think Glenn said one of his early Detroit bands played Funk #49 in their garage.
Unlike Felder, Joe's informed and literate enough to write articulate and engaging lyrics. Comparing mankind with the musicians on the sinking Titanic, playing obliviously as a catastrophe is going on around them, is quite an analogy. (The Band Played On from Analog Man).